Assign Different Wallpapers To Different Workspaces On Ubuntu 11.04 “Natty Narwhal”

Here is a guide that shows you how to assign a wallpaper to a specific workspace. To do this you need to have the CompizConfig Settings Manager (ccsm) and the extra compiz plugins installed.

You can assign the images using the Wallpaper plugin from the CompizConfig Settings Manager (ccsm). To start ccsm open a terminal window press Alt+F2 and type: ccsm and follow these steps:

1. Click on the Utility button.
2. Click on the Wallpaper button.
3. Click on the New button.
4. Click on the browse button and select the image.
5. Change the position of the image to your likings.
6. Enable Wallpaper plugin (your panels will crash).
7. Close ccsm
8. Press Alt+F2 and type gconf-editor.
9. Click on apps -> nautilus -> preferences
10. Scroll down until you see: show_desktop and disable it then close the configuration editor.

When done log out and back in again and the wallpapers are set and your panels will look normal again.

There is also an option to Rotate the wallpapers, to do this enable Cycle Wallpapers.

Please note that when using this on Ubuntu Unity the Alt+F2 function (run a command) only works when your pointer is on a panel. When the pointer is on your desktop you will not be able to type a command after pressing Alt+F2. On Ubuntu Classic it all works like it’s supposed to work.

If you don’t have the CompizConfig Settings Manager installed open a terminal window (press Alt+F2 and type: gnome-terminal) and copy+paste the following line:

11 Responses to Assign Different Wallpapers To Different Workspaces On Ubuntu 11.04 “Natty Narwhal”

I’m not sure what I’ve done differently, but my ccsm doesn’t have the wallpaper option under utility. I checked all other places and it is not listed there either. If you have any clue as to why this wouldn’t show up please let me know. Also just so you know I am not a Noob. Although I kind of feel like one because of this problem.
Anyway thanks in advance.

Great tutorial, but i have a problem: i followed all the steps correctly and it apprently worked, but as i logged out and back in, i found the 4workspaces black!any solution?
thanks in advance, leonardo

I did this and it works, but now I cannot right click on the Desktop, but that’s not really a problem, it’s more this: that when I go to change themes – like install one from GNOME etc, it gives me an error, says the theme (whatever the name may be) does not appear to be a valid theme. These themes however, worked before I did this desktop pictures deal with setting my pictures on workspaces. I’m only about a month into learning Ubuntu so if this is something easy, no laughing allowed. I’m thinking it has something to do with the fact that I disabled “show_desktop” maybe? Is there a way to fix this so I can do my themes?

If you disable the desktop function i may have some effects on the Unity edition. I haven’t checked out all the problems you an run into but another is that when using this on Unity your keyboard doesn’t work well unless the mouse is on a panel. So i wouldn’t surprise me if this an error caused by disabling the show_desktop option.